Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM)

Overview

Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) is a licence to teach music in the context of a principal-study discipline. This course reflects practices in the state and public sectors, emphasising employability and relevance as key aims.

This is a practical course, informed and supported by pedagogical theory, which will give students an understanding of current national teaching practices, promote reflective teaching and align with national standards. This is a basic, all-encompassing foundation and a basis for growing skills and confidence.

Enrolment

The LRAM course is currently open to:

• BMus undergraduates (3rd and 4th year) and postgraduates
• Alumni

Selection will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to show:

• good reflective practice
• the ability to select appropriate repertoire for a student
• an understanding of student-based learning
• improved communication
• knowledge of supporting pedagogical theory
• an understanding of safeguarding in the UK
• the ability to teach a beginner

Structure

Course Lectures (am)

• Teaching and You - John Hutchins
• The Importance of Music - Paul Harris
• Simultaneous Learning - Paul Harris
• Teaching Beginners - Paul Harris
• Safeguarding - Tommy Foster
• Your Student, Our Patient - Finola Ryan
• How to Teach Aural - Miranda Francis
• Living with Autism - Duncan Honeydew
• The Unconditional Teacher - Paul Harris
• Teaching Sightreading - Paul Harris
• Next Steps in Teaching Practice - John Hutchins

Instrumental/Voice Sessions

Each student has 15 hours of practical sessions which cover the following subjects:

• Practical ideas for teaching beginners
• Teaching adults
• Teaching advanced students
• Lesson planning
• Monitoring progress

Journal

The journal will prepare you to be a reflective practitioner, enhancing the learning and progression process throughout the course. It will enable you to relate your teaching to pedagogical theory, giving you an awareness of current national teaching practices and the regulatory and statutory teaching framework in the UK public sector . 

The journal consists of five parts:

1. an examination of the occupational element of teaching and to discover what you bring to the table. Your answers can be discussed at the opening practical sessions.
2. pedagogical questions related to the course
3. a reflective section to support next steps for improvement.
4. a chance to receive your teacher's feedback from the lesson observation and provide your own response.
5. a teaching toolkit designed to assist you in your future teaching career, and includes pay guides, skill check-ups, a safeguarding checklist, DBS information, a lesson plan template and a bibliography

Viva voce

You will be assessed in an oral examination in June by your instrument session lead and the Director of LRAM, John Hutchins. Assessment will be based on the completion of the journal, and the following criteria:   

• The student must be able to demonstrate examples from the learning outcomes.
• The student must show general knowledge of the academic subjects offered.
• The student must show the ability to reflect and create solutions for areas of weakness.
• The student must be able to show improvement in their teaching skills.